shanghai zhujiajiao ancient town tourism zone qingpu district

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Zhujiajiao Ancient Town - "Venice of Shanghai"

About Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, reputed as the Venice of Shanghai, is a 1700-year-old town with old bridges, old streets, Ming-Qing dynasty architectures, old Buddhist and Taoist sites, etc. Relax yourselves in this exquisite old town for a half-day or one day trip from Shanghai.

Type: Water Town, Architectural Buildings, Historic Site

Best Seasons: All seasons, especially Spring and Autumn

Recommended Visiting Time: half day to one day

Open Hours: All day

Address: Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai 上海市青浦区朱家角古镇旅游区

Why Visit Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao (朱家角) Ancient Town , or Zhujiajiao Water Town, reputed as " Venice of Shanghai ", was listed as one of the top four cultural ancient towns in Shanghai , about 48 kilometers west from Shanghai downtown area. Zhujiajiao ancient town is located in Qingpu District of Shanghai, linked by subway line 17, close to Dianshan Lake scenic spot. It is a typical ancient Chinese water town. The town has many sites to see such as traditional couryards and gardens, as well as many snacks and souvenir shops. It is the top ancient town to visit around Shanghai. It is with 150 hectare which is three times larger than Zhouzhuang Water Town (周庄) in Suzhou .

Someone called it a dazzling pearl situated along Dianshan Lake (淀山湖) and now this 1700-year-old ancient town is still bright and flourishing. Once you visit this gorgeous town, the beautiful scene will fix in your memory - clear waters with traditional boats sailing on, old bridges standing across the rivers, thousands of Ming-Qing architectures flanking both banks of the river, old and long streets stretching through the whole town…It is primitive, full of charm and enjoyment. It is an exquisite water town taking you to relax your body and mind for a day trip from Shanghai.

• Popular Shanghai Tours including Zhujiajiao ✔ 3 Days Shanghai & Zhujiajiao Water Town Tour ✔ 6 Days Shanghai Yellow Mountain Tour with Water Town Visit

Highlights & Experience in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town

The featured cultural sites of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town are one bridge, one street, one temple, one hall, two gardens, three bays and twenty-six alleys, showing the magnificence in some ways. Of course, as a traveler, you will have many interesting things to do to be immersed in the beautiful water town.

Zhujiajiao Water Town Opening Hours

As a small village, Zhujiajiao Water Town is opening all day. but some attractions, shops and restaurants might be close on certain time according to their own will.

Zhujiajiao Entrance Fee

It's free to enter Zhujiajiao village. There are also additional fee to certain attractions. You are recommended to buy the combo ticket to enter 7 attractions, including Museum of Humanities, Tibetan Culture Museum, Qing Dynasty Post Office, City God Temple, Handicraft Museum, Yuan Jin Temple, Kezhi Garden (人文艺术馆+扎西达娲藏文化体验馆+大清邮局 +城隍庙+手工艺馆+圆津禅院+课植园). If you would like to take a boat, the price is about CNY 30 per person per time.

Where to Put the Luggage

The tourist service center of Zhujiajiao provides luggage storage service.

Photography at Fangsheng Bridge

Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥), built in 1571, is standing across Caogang River (漕港河), linking the north and south part of Zhujiajiao. It is the symbolic spot of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town . What’s more, it’s called the No. 1 bridge of Shanghai for it is the longest, largest, tallest bridge with five holes . The name of Fangsheng is releasing animals that on the first day and the fifteenth day of every lunar month, monks and Buddhists will gather here to release animals.

Fangsheng Bridge is the best site for travelers, even for photographers to take some awesome pictures – Ming-Qing buildings with white walls and black tile standing both sides of the river, traditional boats coming and going...It will add more exquisiteness to the pictures when it is sunny, rainy, and misty.

Impressed by Concept of Life in Kezhi Garden

Kezhi Garden (课植园) is a hidden treasure with a typical Jiangnan style . The former owner was Ma Weiqi (马维骐) whose family were salt merchants for generations, being one of the richest men in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. The garden is divided into two parts, one is the study area (Ke Garden, 课园) and the other is the farming area (Zhi Garden, 植园), implying that people should study and farm to keep the house. There are over 200 buildings linking each other and among them, Wangyue Tower (望月楼) and Shucheng (书城) are the architectures with a combination of Chinese and Western style. The poetries of the Four Scholars of Jiangnan (Tang, Zhu, Wen and Zhou) in the Ming Dynasty were inscribed on the tablet corridor.

Stroll along Hundred-year-old North Street

The North Street (北大街) is the most well-preserved Ming-Qing Street in Shanghai . Strolling leisurely along the stone-paved old street, you’ll be immersed in the busy commercialized feeling and explore different kinds of art shops and century-old brand shops, like Club Teahouse, Handalong Sauce, and Pickles Shop and see the locals talking with each other over the window on the second floor. Walking on the street and looking up, you’ll find the sky turning into a finedraw, so the North Street is also called “A Street of Finedraw”.

Have Panoramic View on Yuanjin Buddhist Temple

Yuanjin Buddhist Temple (圆津禅院) was built in Yuan Dynasty with more than 600 years’ history . This temple enshrines Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and so the temple is called “Niang Niang Temple”. Travelers can explore the peaceful temple by visiting the Maitreya Hall, Hall of Three Saints (Amitabha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Mahasthamaprapta), Yongyue Well, Yuantong Treasure Hall, and Qinghua Pavilion. You can climb up to the third floor of Qinghua Pavilion to have the panoramic view of Zhujiajiao Ancient Town .

Visit Three Treasures in City God Temple

Zhujiajiao was flourished with Buddhism and Taoism in ancient times. You have known that Yuanjin is a Buddhist temple while this City God Temple (城隍庙) is a Taoist temple with typical Taoist architecture. The main duty of City God Temple is to protect the wellness and happiness of the local people. Entering into the temple, you’ll see a screen wall with “The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea” and a pair of stone lions. Besides, travelers can have a look at the three treasures – the old drama stage, big abacus and hundred-year-old gingko tree.

Know Postal History by Visit Qing-dynasty Post Office

Do you know the history and development of post and postal service in China? Paying a short visit to the Qing Post Office (大清邮局) which is the only well-kept Qing-dynasty post site in Shanghai , you will have a brief understanding about the thousand-year-long post and postal service of China. It was first set in 1903 and in the exhibition hall, you can see different kinds of Qing postcards which represent the living condition and folk customs of different social strata.

Relax on Lovely Water to Enjoy Fascinating Scenery

Spend about 30 minutes relaxing yourselves on a boat sailing on the lovely water and you’ll enjoy the fascinating scenery of Zhujiajiao along the way. Travelers usually take the following popular routes: Fangsheng Bridge – Kezhi Garden, City God Temple – Kezhi Garden and Kezhi Garden – Fangsheng Bridge. The maximum number of tourists on a boat is six people, which is comfortable and less crowded.

There are eight piers scattered in the whole town and the boats will pass Yong’an Bridge (永安桥), Zhonglong Bridge (中龙桥), Tai’an Bridge (泰安桥), Lang Bridge (廊桥), Chenghuang Bridge (城隍桥) and Yongfeng Bridge (永丰桥) and traditional buildings and sites along the way. Please discuss your favorite route with your local tour guide.

How to Visit Zhujiajiao Water Town

Recommended Visiting Route From South Entrance : The ancient town of Zhujiajiao is not very big. You can walk around it and have a tour for about half a day to one day. After entering the ancient town from the south entrance, you will first come to Zhuxi garden and the Museum of Humanities. Zhuxi garden is a small and exquisite garden, which is now open for free. The Museum of Humanities is a modern white building with unique shape, which records the local history and culture of Zhujiajiao in the form of oil paintings and sculptures.

After passing the Museum of Humanities, you come to the North Street. There are a lot of tourists having snacks and shopping. You can eat the famous rice dumplings, sauced pig's feet, and all kinds of exquisite cakes here.

Walk slowly along the North Street, and on the right there are several bridges with different shapes, such as Yongfeng bridge and Tai'an bridge. Caohe street is on the other side of the river. There are many scenic spots along the river, such as the Qing dynasty post office, Wang Chang memorial hall, City God's Temple, Yuan Jin temple and so on, which can be visited leisurely. Besides scenic spots, there are many small shops and bookstores.

There is a bridge on the right side of North Street across the main river, which is the famous Fangsheng bridge in Zhujiajiao. On the other side of the Caogang River, there are still small waterways. And the most important traditional garden in Zhujiajiao scenic spot is also here.

Recommended Visiting Route From North Entrance : Your Zhujiajiao Ancient Town tour usually begins from Kezhi Garden which is close to the north entrance to the studying area and farming area of Kezhi Garden, pay a visit to Shanghai Quanhua Art Gallery to enjoy water townships and watercolor, take a leisure walk to Fangsheng Bridge and take some great pictures, stroll along the old North Street which takes your back into old times, cross Tai’an Bridge and reach Yuanjin Buddhist Temple and climb up Qinghua Pavilion to have a panoramic view of Zhujiajiao, have a look at City God Temple before heading to Shanghai Handicraft Exhibition Hall. Then, continue your trip to Tong Tianhe Chinese Pharmacy, Humanistic Museum, and Y-Art Gallery before you leave.

How to Get to Zhujiajiao from Shanghai

The distance between Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town is 48 kilometers. It takes about 1 hour by car. Linked by subway line 17 , you can easily transfer from Shanghai downtown area to Zhujiajiao in Qingpu district.

• From Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station : You can take the subway line 17 from Hongqiao stop to Zhujiajiao Stop with a duration of about 1 hour. After getting off the train, you can get to Bus Zhujiajiao No. 2 to the scenic area directly.
• From Shanghai Tourist Center : there are buses running between the tourist center and Zhujiajiao. It takes about 1 hour from Shanghai Tourist Center to Zhujiajiao.
• From People's Square : travelers can take buses at Pu’an Jinling Road which leaves every half hour and takes about 1 hour.
• From Shanghai South Railway Station : buses are available during the daytime which leave every half hour.

The above is the general travel information and may subject to change. For more detailed transportation info from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants.

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If you want to get rid of the hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers sightseeing, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Zhujiajiao Water Town with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.

How to Plan a Shanghai Tour

How to Get to Shanghai: You can fly to Shanghai directly from Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Los Angeles & many overseas countries (regions) and almost all major Chinese cities, like Beijing, Xian; or take high speed bullet train to Shanghai from domestic cities.

Best Time to Visit Shanghai: March to May (in spring) & September to November (in autumn), because these periods offer beautiful nature scenery and comfortable weather for outdoor sightseeing and activities.

Top Attractions to Visit in Shanghai: The Bund, Lujiazui Skyscrapers, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum, Wukang Road, Shanghai Disney Resort…

Best known as an international popular tourist destination, Shanghai perfectly preserves mixed culture of the western and eastern. The duration and theme of your Shanghai tour can be flexibly arranged based on your time and interests. Usually, tourists spend 2 days on sightseeing the most famous landmarks, including the Bund , Yu Garden, skyscrapers like Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center, Wukang Road, Shanghai Museum, etc. With one extra day, you can enjoy family fun in Disneyland Park or visit Zhujiajiao Water Town in the suburb. Don't miss the Shanghai Maglev Train, wonderful nightlife and Shanghai Cuisine.

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Travel Shanghai with Hangzhou Suzhou, More Nearby Destinations

Convenient transportation makes it quite efficient and popular to make day trips from Shanghai to Hangzhou , Suzhou , and longer vacation in Huangshan Mountain , Nanjing, Mount Jiuhua and other places in surrounding areas. So you can visit West Lake and learn Chinese tea culture in Hangzhou, marvel at tasteful classical gardens and witness Chinese silk productive process. Splendid rocky mountains with exotic pine trees are highlights in Huangshan Mountain.

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Beijing Xian Shanghai are golden triangle cities often visited together for a week holiday. You can use 3 days to visit the Great Wall and major iconic spots like Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and leave 2 days for fulfilling your Terracotta Warriors tour in Xian. With more time, you can extend the trip from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie, Guilin, Chengdu, Yunnan, Silk Road, Tibet and more phenomenal destinations to enrich your China discovery. (more top China tours from Shanghai >> )

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Zhu Jiajiao Ancient Town

Zhujiajiao is located in the southwest part of Qingpu District, Shanghai, known as a "Pearl of the south of the Yangtze River" embedded beside Dianshan Lake.

The core area of the ancient town is 3.08 square kilometers. During the song and Yuan Dynasties, people started country fairs in this area. Later a town was officially established during Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. From the late Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China Period, it had become a famous commercial town.

The water network and streets in the town are well preserved, presenting the ancient and simple lifestyle of "small bridges, flowing water and old houses". The remaining ancient buildings and houses include Kezhi Garden, City God Temple, Yuanjin Buddhist Temple, Fangsheng Bridge, and Post Office of Qing Dynasty.

In 2007, it was selected into the third batch of famous Chinese historical and cultural towns. Today, Zhujiajiao is rejuvenated and has become a unique scenic spot for tourism in Shanghai.

Zhujiajiao Water Town (Known as the Venice of Shanghai)

Zhujiajiao Water Town is about 50 km away from the Bund, Shanghai. If your time is limited, Zhujiajiao would be the best and 2nd nearest option to get a feel of such ancient towns around Shanghai . Similar to Venice in Italy, there are many well preserved bridges and boat ride is available.

Zhujiajiao Water Town Facts

• Chinese: 朱家角 Zhūjiā Jiǎo /joo-jyaa jyaoww/ 'Zhu Family Settlement'
• Area: 47 square kilometers
• Age: over 1,700 years
• Popular activities: boating, walking, and photography
• Must sees: ancient buildings and bridges
• Suited to: travelers who have limited time in Shanghai
• Time needed: 3 hours

Top Things to Do in Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao is a township in the Qingpu District of Shanghai. In the centuries past Zhujiajiao was a trading area due to the many canals, which were used to ferry products along in little boats and barges.

This ancient town is well endowed with waterways, 36 ancient bridges, and traditional Chinese-style residences .

1. Walk Along Bei Dajie (North Street)

Among Zhujiajiao's nine old streets, North Street is the best preserved ancient street with some of the buildings dating back to the Qing Dynasty era (1644-1912).

Nowadays, plenty of restaurants, bars and coffee shops line both sides of the narrow street. You can take a stroll along the street to see the ancient buildings, sample some local snacks or relax in a artsy bar.

2. Visit Kezhi Yuan

Kezhi Yuan at the northern edge of the old district on Xijing Street is a garden dating back to 1912. The word "kezhi" means to learn to plant, a lesson on plants or a class about plants, so it was a place to see and learn about them.

The area consists of a main hall, a garden, and an artificial hill. The landmark of the gardens is a five story building with a pavilion on its roof - the tallest structure in the ancient town of Zhujiajiao.

3. Go to a Qing Dynasty Post Office

On Xihu Street, there is a post office that was built during the Qing Dynasty, and it is said to be the best preserved of its era in China. There are many exhibits and among them are old letters written on bamboo and antique postcards of old Shanghai.

4. Visit Fangsheng Bridge

Fangsheng Bridge is one of the main attractions among the ancient the 36 ancient stone bridges, some of which are only a yard wide. It was built in 1812 and is said to be the largest stone arch bridge in Shanghai , resting on five arches, and being about 70 meters long and 5.8 meters tall.

One way to see the bridges is to take a boat trip - these small boats seat five adults or six children. The fare is about 80 yuan (13 USD).

5. Have a Zhujiajiao Cruise

Small gondolas can be seen everywhere in the town, and are a nice way to get a view of the town from the water . Each gondola can hold six people. There are two kinds of trip: short distance and long distance.

The short-distance trip takes passengers up and down the main canal, and the price is about 80 yuan per boat for about 10 minutes.

The long-distance cruise travels all over the town and back again, and the price is 150 yuan per boat. Tickets can be bought at the small wooden ticket booths.

Docks you can take a boat trip from: Fangsheng Bridge (放生桥), Kezhi Yuan (课植园) and the City God Temple (城隍庙).

Our private tour to Zhujiajiao Water Town includes all the highlights above and can tailor-made according to your interests.

How to Get to Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town from Shanghai

From downtown shanghai.

• By Metro : Take Shanghai Metro Line 17 and get off at Zhujiajiao Station, and then walk for about 20 minutes to get there.
• By Taxi : A trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town costs about 200 yuan. Make a note of the address and show it to the driver.
• By Bus : There is a tourist bus operating from Shanghai Stadium (Gate 5) in the mornings. There is also an inexpensive small pink bus that leaves from Pu'an Road Bus Station or Shanghai Ti Yu Guan Station. Take the bus line called Hùzhū Gāosù Kuàixiàn. The trip takes an hour and costs 12 yuan.

From Pudong International Airport

If you have 12 hours layover in Shanghai, you can consider a trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town.

Take a shuttle bus or the Metro Line 2 from Pudong Airport to Hongqiao Airport, then walk to the subway station from where take the Metro Line 17 and get off at Zhujiajiao Station. It takes about 2.5 hours one way.

We suggest booking a private tour. A private tour can make the most of your time and improve the comfort and pleasure of your journey. Your local guide and driver will meet you at your designated place to pick you up. During your whole tour, your guide and driver will escort you until you arrive at your hotel or airport safely.

Travel Essentials for Planning a Trip

• Location: located in Qingpu District, about 50 km away from the Bund, Shanghai .
• Opening hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
• Entrance fee: You don't need a ticket to walk around, but it is an official tourist area, so some attractions and buildings require a ticket. For your reference: 1. CNY 30 for four scenic spots (including Tongtianhe Medicine Shop, Qing Dynasty Post Office, Y-Art Gallery, and Kezhi Garden); 2. CNY 60 for eight scenic spots (including Y-Art Gallery, Tongtianhe Medicine Shop, Qing Dynasty Post Office, City God Temple, Yuanjin Meditation Room, Handwork Exhibition Hall, Quanhua Art Hall and Kezhi Garden); 3. CNY 80 for cruise boat and eight scenic spots metioned above.
• Tip: This place is crowded with both local and foreign visitors during weekends and public holidays in China. You'd better visit the town on a weekday.

Tour Zhujiajiao Water Town with China Highlights

We will provide a private car and a local professional guide only work for you. You will be escorted during your tour. Transport, ticket, and dining all we will arrange for you according your requirements.

Our most popular tour for your reference:

• 2-Day Charming Shanghai and Watertown Tour : You will visit the must-see attractions in Shanghai along with Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town.
• Shanghai Essence and Water Village VIP Day Tour

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• Travel & Sightseeing

[Outbound]: The Hermit's Guide To Zhujiajiao

Shanghai is surrounded by watertowns. Nanxun, Xitang, Tongli… Suzhou, if you stretch the definition to breaking. But the most recognizable one might just be Zhujiajiao.

Located in Qingpu 40km west of downtown, the village claims a 1,700 year history, though most of it dates to the Qing Dynasty (1600s-1900s), with some elements dating back to the Ming. It's been described as the Venice of Shanghai for its peaceful canals, its historic houses and lanes, and the heaving crush of tourists that threatens to sink it into the muddy waters.

Oh The Humanity

On even a semi-busy day on Zhujiajiao's Bei Dajie and Dongjing Jie, a boiling river of flesh snakes its way through century old streets at a crawl. Hundreds of people crammed in cheek to armpit. Mothers clutching their babes clamber onto the front steps of stores to escape the undulating, Fincher-esque nightmare. The River Styx wishes it got this kind of traffic.

How To Actually Enjoy A Visit To Zhujiajiao

I'm going to show you how to actually enjoy Zhujiajiao. Contain your astonishment. Here are the three rules that have seen me go back to Zhujijiao like four times just this year and have a really, really good time. The key is to avoid people.

Rule #1: Find a decent hotel and plan a staycation

Yep. Don't be fooled, Zhujiajiao is not for an action-packed day-tour of a historic town. It's for a weekend away from the city, soaking in that quiet watertown vibe somewhere off the beaten path, comfortable in the knowledge that you're just an hour from the city center. Bring books, podcasts, your Netflix account, a significant other and/or your favorite naptime plushie. If you happen to like rain, Zhujiajiao during a rainstorm is a spine-tinglingly soothing experience.

This also means that your choice of hotel is absolutely crucial. Make sure it's in the Old Town, isn't far from the canals, has windows that don't face onto the street, and definitely not on the roads mentioned in Rule #2.

Personally Recommended Places To Stay

The Tile Guesthouse (青白瓦宿客栈) - A little courtyard with six rooms and a shared kitchen area. It's tucked down an alley off Xijing Jie, a stone's throw from the main northern canal, but it's peaceful and very, very relaxed. If possible, get the corner room with the garden view. Ideal for a lazy weekend.

Old Studio (和处) - This converted mansion has two separate buildings, each housing tastefully renovated rooms with all the mod cons. The main room's loft apartment has a very cool trapdoor entrance and a tatami bed under the rafters. Although the front rooms face onto Xijing Jie, which gets some foot traffic, they're separated by a garden space.

Rule #2: Avoid Bei Dajie and Dongjing Jie At All Costs

Pictured: The River of Souls

These two streets are a fascinating glimpse into what streetlife one or two hundred years ago was like. With a bit of mental effort, you can imagine when the shopfronts selling chintzy tourist gunk were instead cobblers, fish mongers and jewelsmiths.

Avoid them at all costs. They're a ticking road rage timebomb.

Take the side streets instead. One street away from the hustle and bustle of Dongjing Jie, it's peace and quiet. With a good sense of direction, you can get to your café or hotel with minimum exposure to the crowds and maximum exposure to the actual old parts of Old Zhujiajiao.

Rule #3: Go Out Before Noon And After Dark

Most tourists to Zhujiajiao are day trippers. The busiest times of the day are roughly 11am to around 5pm. Take a walk in the early hours of the morning, or after dark, when most of the crowds head home and the streets are quiet again. The stores close, and the alleys are filled with an eerie, haunting sense of history that has seeped into the cobblestones.

What's There To See And Do

If you do manage to brave the crowds during opening hours, here are a couple of the highlights (onlylights?) that Zhujiajiao has to offer. They've been done to death everywhere else, so I'll give you the crib notes. Package tickets can be bought at the entrances to the town for 30rmb.

Ancient Qing Post Office (大清邮局) - The well-maintained exterior of this old outpost of the Qing Dynasty belies a fairly empty interior. A couple of scrolls, some cool postcards and some illustrations don't really make up for how cool it would've been to see the preserved set-up of a post office.

City God Temple (城隍庙) - Every town has one. The shrines to lesser gods in the outlying rooms and alcoves are neat, but you're not missing much if you give this one a pass. Here, just look at the pictures.

Kezhi Yuan (课植园) - This giant garden occupies much of the northwestern portion of Zhujiajiao. Gorgeous, well-preserved, packed.

Yuanjin Buddhist Temple (圆津禅院) - The view from the top of this active Buddhist Temple's pagoda is excellent. Hit the giant bell if you get a chance to. Won't bring you any good luck, but it feels great.

Cross All The Bridges in Zhujiajiao - Zhujiajiao has something like 36 bridges. Unless you go looking, you'll encounter maybe eight. They vary from little two-meter stone-and-wood constructions to Fangsheng Bridge , the majestic five-arch, six meter tall, seventy meter long construction dating back to the 1800s. It's packed, but since it's the only way across the river (apart from the 80rmb tourist gondola ride) you'll have to brave it eventually. See Rule #2.

Visit Oriental Land - While you're out here, you may as well check out Oriental Land, located one stop away from Zhujiajiao. Here's the article where we checked it out .

Hexin Yuan, The Hidden Garden (和心园)

This! This is worth visiting. Despite being directly on Xijing Jie, Hexin Garden remains blessedly unknown. Once a family manor, it was bought up by a private collector a decade ago, and filled with hundreds of his antiques collection. It's exceptionally well-maintained, and draws a fraction of the guests that Kezhi does.

It houses hundreds of antiques. Tang dynasty sculptures, furniture rumored to belong to Du Yuesheng, decorative rocks, stone tablets, even a two-story "Twin Pagoda" from Sichuan, which was disassembled when the Three Gorges Dam threatened to flood it, shipped across the country, and lovingly reassembled right here in the central garden. Entrance is 20rmb.

Where To Eat And Drink

Quote Wikipedia, "Zhujiajiao is famous for its cuisine." In reality, it's watertown food. You'll find something very similar just about anywhere around Shanghai. Especially on the northern streets, the lane is flanked by stalls selling steaming hunks of reddish-brown braised pork. There are plenty of places to get skewers or tofu.

Most of the restaurants on the main streets are roughly the same, a mix of Shanghainese and Zhejiang cuisine. Lots of tanks with live seafood. Round tables with glass tops. You get it. Pick at random, or better yet, pick by which one has the best canal seating or the nicest balcony. Look up as you walk around, pick one, and find the entrance from the street.

Oh, try the little wonton shop just in front of the little footbridge connecting Dongjing Jie and Xijing Jie. It's cheap and adorable. Also, the fried red bean cakes on Dongjing Jie are almost worth the hassle of the crowds to try.

Coffeeshops

If you don't want to relax in your picturesque bed and breakfast, or if you've ignored rule one about getting a picturesque bed and breakfast, then here are a couple of quiet, more secluded coffeeshops you can comfortable chill at. Canal Coffeeshop - Walk down Caohe Jie and on the canal-side, just down from the shop with the corgi on the stoop, you'll encounter an open-fronted café with a piano. The appeal is in the exposed stone terrace directly on the canal. Great place to sit and relax, soak in some sun, or settle into the couches to read.

Amy's Bakery - It's at the far eastern end of Dongjing Jie, just across the little bridge. Quiet spot, far from most of the crowds, it's got a spacious garden facing onto a canal, and the owner bakes her own cakes. Like the restaurants, there are dozens of options available, especially along the western edge of Caohe Jie. You can pick one at random, based on how quiet it is and how close to the canal side windows/terraces you can sit.

There's also a Starbucks on the southern end of Fangsheng Bridge, I guess .

Sadly, Red Star has closed. Once upon a time, this outpost of rock and roll and medicinal usage in Zhujiajiao drew in a semi-regular crowd from downtown. A year or so ago, it finally closed. RIP Red Star.

Instead, I'll recommend Dorjelam (多杰拉姆) on Caohe Jie, by the Post Office. Decked out like a Himalayan hostel with a committed drinking habit, they have Tibetan beer on tap and live music nearly every night. No medicinal usage permitted.

How To Get There

By Metro This is your best option. Line 17 opened in 2017 with a stop at Zhujiajiao. 40 minutes from Hongqiao Railway Station, and long portions of it are overground past the countryside.

The station is about a 20 minute walk from Zhujiajiao and Fangsheng Bridge. Tip: instead of turning down Xiangningbang Lu, keeping walking up Zhuxi Lu, cross the river on and head straight into Zhujiajiao from the back via Siming Lu, avoiding the crowds from Rule #3. By Bus The Huzhu Express Line runs from Pu'an Lu near People's Square every thirty minutes, and it takes about an hour to get to the Zhujiajiao Bus Station. Lines are better than they were before Line 17 opened. By Car Taxis or a DiDi will cost you about 200rmb. Ask them to drop you at the northern carpark; there's a gate where you can get your entry tickets. Again, entry into the town is free.

And Stay There!

Despite being so old, Zhujiajiao feels pretty young. Several shops are run by young, hip-looking dudes and dudettes who are into hanfu and tea. A common refrain I heard from the owners of cafes, bars and hostels is that they got fed up with the stress of Shanghai and moved out here for some quiet and some culture. Some of them are taking over family housing or shops, but a lot of them had their eyes on brand new flats at low prices.

Anjuke cites the sales price in the area at around 32,000rmb per sqm for an apartment in the brand new complexes popping up around Zhujiajiao. Compare that with like 110,000rmb in Jing'an. You hear the same reasoning from people moving to Suzhou: you can live in a smaller city where the pace isn't so harrowing and the cost of living isn't so high, and still get a Shanghai paycheque. At the cost of a one-hour commute.

I'm not at that stage yet. But a couple of days in Zhujiajiao does wonders for Shanghai burnout. If you do it right.

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Qingpu, Shanghai China

Qingpu district facts.

Chinese Name: 青浦区 (qīng pǔ qū) Population: 1,219,000 Area: 676 square kilometers (261 square miles) Location: in the west of Shanghai, east China Area Code: 021 Zip Code: 201799 GDP (2018): CNY107.43 billion (USD 16.24 billion)  

Transportation Hub in Shanghai

Qingpu District is located in the west of Shanghai , the lower reaches of Taihu Lake and the upper reaches of Huangpu River . It is adjacent to Minhang District on the east, Songjiang District and Jinshan District on the south and Jiading District on the north. Qingpu Shanghai China has a superior geographical position with developed land and water transportation. It is 20 km (12 mi) away from the urban center and only 6 km (4 mi) away from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport . Connecting Zhejiang Province and Jiangsu Province on the west, it is the west gate of Shanghai to the mainland, and also the transportation hub. The Zhujiajia Water Town enjoys the reputation of Shanghai Venice and is a definitely a must-see scenic spot in Qingpu Shanghai China.

Best Places to Visit & Top Things to Do in Qingpu District

Best time to visit qingpu district.

The best time to visit Qingpu District Shanghai is in April, May, October and November. The climate of the four months is the most pleasant of the year with an average temperature of 18℃ (64℉). Qingpu District Shanghai has a mild climate and four distinct seasons with abundant sunshine and rainfall. The summer time of Qingpu that from June to August is very hot and the average temperature is about 27℃ (81℉). In winter, from December to February, the temperature can be as low as 0℃ (32℉). From mild-June, the rainy season will last for one month. Visitors need to attach more attention to the weather forecast.

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Transportation.

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